‘Human Catastrophe’: $1 Billion Needed To Fight Ebola From Doubling

A startling rise in Ebola cases could begin in the next three weeks in West Africa, according to the World Health Organization. The outbreak could cost the country nearly $1 billion to contain so it does not turn into a “human catastrophe.”

Meanwhile, President Obamahas ordered for the deployment of 3,000 U.S. military personnel to help provide aid within the region. “The response to Ebola continues to fall dangerously behind,” Dr. Joanne Liu, president of Doctors Without Borders, told a United Nation special briefing on Ebola in Geneva. “The window of opportunity to contain this outbreak is closing. We need more countries to stand up, we need greater deployment, and we need it now.”

The numbers are incredibly eye-opening and hard to fathom: 2,400 deaths have been directly related to the outbreak, which has infected Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria and Senegal since it was first recognized in March. Officials remarked Tuesday (9/16) that it is not out of the realm of possibility that 20,000 could become infected before the outbreak is over. “It’s a potential threat to global security if these countries break down,” Obama said, speaking of the hardest-hit countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

“If the outbreak is not stopped now, we could be looking at hundreds of thousands of people affected, with profound economic, political and security implications for all of us,” Obama said after outlining new steps being taken by the U.S. to contain the outbreak. In addition to the 3,000 troops being placed on the ground in West Africa, the U.S. is also looking to erect new treatment and isolation facilities, train health care workers, and boost communications and transportation support.